Anacardium occidentale L., Anacardiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: 0 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Anacardium microcarpum Ducke

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: casue, kasoe, kasoy

Chinese: yao guo

English: cashew, cashew nut

French: acajou à pommes, anacardier, cajou, pomme de cajou, pommier cajou

Maori (Cook Islands): kātū

Samoan: ‘apu ‘initia

Spanish: anacardo, cajuil, marañōn, merey

Tongan: ‘apu, kesiu, telie p#257;pālangi

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Spreading evergreen tree to 12 m, the trunk to 5 dm thick or more, with milky, acrid juice; petioles 6-15 mm long; leaf blades (9) 10-20 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, oblong-oval or obovate to oblanceolate, rounded or emarginate apically, prominently marked with 9-14 pairs of widely spreading lateral veins; panicles subcorymbose, terminal, 10-25 cm long, the branches widely spreading, naked except for the terminal cymose flower clusters; flowers white, becoming yellow pink, ca 8 mm wide; fruit curved-reniform, more or less fingerlike, or heart-shaped, ca 2.5 cm long, with the seed edible when roasted, borne atop a fleshy receptacle, 5-9 cm long, yellow or red, edible when ripe" (Welsh, 1998; pp. 28-29).

Habitat/ecology:  Prefers fertile, moist soils but is well adapted to other conditions. Most common in subtropical climates. (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Propagation:  Seed. Can be dispersed by fruit bats.

Native range:  Tropical America; in widespread cultivation.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 32) Uncommon
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 13) Naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 84)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 13) Naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 128658) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 451) Vouchers cited: DA 16968, DA 13499
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 15279) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 128661) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 451) Vouchers cited: Tothill 457, DA 9547, DA 12255
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 15278) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 7325 (PAP), J. Florence, D.H. Lorence & W.L. Wagner 9475 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 601904) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000296) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 7298 (PAP) Naturalisé dans les ravins.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 22324) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 28-29) Vouchers cited: Moore 592, BRY 25757a
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 11887 (PAP) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 14076) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1993) (voucher ID: BISH 658255) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5350 (PAP). Naturalisée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492251) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 28-29) Vouchers cited: BRY 25975, BRY 25982
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3274 (PAP) Se naturalise rapidement à Papeete.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 493286) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Naturalisée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 389) Rare.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145) Vouchers cited: Merrill 105, Stafford 182
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128662) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128663) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128664) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 196)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 196)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 14) Vouchers cited: Ledroit in MacKee 40194, MacKee 41711
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 42) Vouchers cited: CHR 170300, CHR 170301
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 22)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 10)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Lorence, David H./Flynn, Tim (2010) (p. 20)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Waterhouse, Barbara (year unknown)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 469) In the settled areas at low and medium altitudes, cultivated and in places naturalized or at least persistent after abandoned cultivation.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 69)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 28751) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 439310) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 46)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 64)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced cultivated	Morat, Ph./Veillon, J.-M. (1985) Morat & Veillon, 1985, cited in Meyer, 2007

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 138)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 13) Casual
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 103)
Comoros Comoro Islands	Mohéli (Mwali) Island	introduced invasive	Vos, P. (2004) (p. 8)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Frégate Island		Robertson, S. A./Todd, D. M. (1983) (p. 45) Voucher cited: Robertson 2666
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Comments:  Naturalizing around a planted tree on Ma‘uke, Cook Islands (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Naturalized north of Broome in Western Australia (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Reported to be invasive in South Africa, Mozambique, and Jamaica (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Anacardium occidentale, please let us know.